However, newly-developed approaches to procurement have contributed a lot in cutting the purchasing costs.

 

Massive supply-demand information storage on the network and burgeoning online trade platforms make it possible for coatings manufacturers to find high-quality products at good prices, and to purchase directly from initial distributors or even raw material producers.

 

Information asymmetry is a long-standing issue between business parties. Rapidly-growing e-business enables consumers to make a clear comparison of the prices—the determinant—of same products.

 

However, e-business is far from satisfactory in chemical raw materials marketing. Block trade requires safe financial account system for large-value funds, and also a smooth logistics system. It still needs time to verify whether the e-business technologies that greatly accelerate the retail industry's growth can also help with chemical industry's transition.